Remember, last April, our sanctuary was put on total lockdown by the DR Wildlife authorities which means that our team had to remain inside to protect them and the chimps against the coronavirus.
Today, and since September 1st, the lockdown has been lifted and our staff members are back with their families. Because the virus was still propagating (and still is!) in town it was obvious a sanitary protocol had to be set up to prevent the worst.
Therefore, our founder, Roxane, worked for weeks with and American team on new sanitary measures to implement once the staff would be allowed to leave the sanctuary.
This is how a form was created including different questions on the health of the staff member, its family and entourage. Temperatures are taken twice a day. Upon arrival, hands must be washed thoroughly and shoes must be soaked in footbaths containing some bleach.
Tool development was supported by PASA International and the Non Human Private COVID-19 Information Hub Team , supported by an award from the Arcus Foundation to the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine for capacity building in the control and management of zoonotic diseases in great ape sanctuaries.
Many thanks again to all the different participants of this interesting and important project! The team of J.A.C.K. seems to stick to the rules and is happy the protocol was set up once they left the sanctuary!